New task team to tackle infighting
THE ANC’s provincial working committee (PWC) has formed a task team to look into political hotspots across municipalities in the Eastern Cape where ANC councillors have turned on each other.
The areas of focus include the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, Buffalo City Municipality, Mnquma Local Municipality in Butterworth, Mbhashe Municipality in Dutywa, and Mbizana.
ANC provincial spokesman Mlibo Qoboshiyane confirmed yesterday that the PWC had formed a task team made up of leaders of the ANC and alliance partners Cosatu and the SA Communist Party (SACP).
The team expected to lead the peace talks includes ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane, chairman Phumulo Masualle, SACP chairman Mzoleli Mrara, secretary Xolile Nqatha, Cosatu chairman Mpumelelo Saziwa and secretary Mandla Rayi.
This follows attempts by the national executive committee to intervene in the political infighting in the Bay.
Last week, ANC top brass led by President Jacob Zuma spent hours deliberating behind closed doors in Port Elizabeth in an attempt to end the political infighting which has occurred in the city for the past year.
Zuma was flanked by his deputy, Kgalema Motlanthe, ANC secretarygeneral Gwede Mantashe and national chairwoman Baleka Mbete.
Motlanthe and Mantashe returned to the Bay on Sunday, and they again deliberated on the leadership battle between City Hall and Florence Matomela House.
Cosatu, its affiliates and other civic groups marched through the Port Elizabeth city centre three weeks ago to show their support for Bay mayor Zanoxolo Wayile and his executive.
Meanwhile, ANC councillors in areas such as Mquma and Mbhashe Municipality continue to vote against party decisions at council meetings.
Qoboshiyane said yesterday: “The municipal hotspots and councillors’ infighting . . . will be swiftly dealt with by an alliance team that will conclude the issues, even if it means withdrawing deployees.
“The ANC cannot go on pretending things are normal, while service delivery is being compromised.”
He said the PWC had also instructed an ANC subcommittee to file recommendations “on all hotspot municipalities with the aim of arresting the situation”.
ANC, Cosatu and SACP regional leaders have welcomed the move to form a task team, saying it is a positive step towards resolving the leadership challenges in the Bay.